Ganon, Link, and Zelda. The three are inextricably linked. The story gets increasingly convoluted with each iteration of the franchise, but it usually boils down to Ganon wanting the Tri-Force so he can control Hyrule, and capturing Zelda so that she can’t stand in his way.

In a Nintendoverse dominated by cutesy types, including villains like Wario and Bowser, Ganon stood out for being the opposite: a legitimately frightening presence — particularly his horseback entrance in Ocarina of Time, rendered scarier still since Link is still a child. For that moment, you understood what was going on in Link’s mind. He looked menacing in the bright and bouncy cell-shaded world of Wind Waker. And even though you beat him the same way each time — stunned him with your sword, then hit him with an arrow — it never got any less satisfying.